Ye Qing has overcome many difficulties since immigrating to the U.S. a decade ago. Now Qing, whose modest Chinese food takeout restaurant in the Rockaways was destroyed by Sandy, is battling bureaucracy as she fights to restart her business.

Starting the restaurant took her life savings. Rebuilding the business would cost at least $30,000, she estimates. But by the end of December, Qing had received only $2,948 in relief funds. Still, the single mother is hopeful she’ll be able to reopen and someday provide her daughter a worry-free life.